Connecticut College News

Media Bytes

01/13/2009

Chris Louis Sardella ’93, a fifth-grade teacher, was featured in Telegram & Gazette (MA), Dec. 17 as one of 80 educators across the country to receive a $25,000 National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

In a Reuters story Dec. 18 about how more people are looking to second-hand stores to cut costs and sell possessions, Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, was quoted as saying that the trend could be positive if it helps consumers build up an immunity to the kind of consumerism that caused the credit crisis. The story was reported by Forbes, Economic Times (India), Interactive Investor (UK) and The Foreign Exchange Market (Spain).

The Day reported Dec. 18 that Stephen George, manager of planning design and construction, won the 2008 Associated General Contractors of Connecticut Construction Industry Recognition Award in the Private Owner category.

Stephen George, who is in charge of a 10-year, $60 million plan to refurbish the College’s facilities, was the Norwich Bulletin “Newsmaker of the Day” Dec. 19 after he won the 2008 Associated General Contractors Industry Recognition Award in the private owner category.

A Dec. 22 article in the New York Times about admission trends mentioned that Connecticut College has seen an increase in financial aid requests. The story was also reported by Star-News (NC), The Gadsen Times (AL) and The Gainesville Sun (FL).

A feature in The Day Dec. 22 told the story of a historic steel house purchased by Winslow Ames, founding director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago and transported to Connecticut College. The 800-square-foot building – near the College’s south lot – is badly rusted and recently received a grant to support its rehabilitation. Abigail Van Slyck, director of the architectural studies program, was quoted.

Norwich Bulletin featured Laura Snow ’09, a dance and American studies major who is minoring in film, as the “Newsmaker of the Day” Dec. 22.

Carl Lewis ’95, recently named the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s new director, told the Miami Herald Dec. 22 that he would look to his father, David Lewis, the Margaret W. Kelly Professor of Chemistry, for help in balancing his life as garden director and scientist.

In an hour-long program on National Public Radio WHYY-FM (PA), Dec. 22, Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology and author of Going Broke: Why Americans Can’t Hold Onto Their Money, gave advice about how to help Americans change their spending and saving habits.

On Dec. 23, Tri-Town News (NJ) and The News Transcript (NJ) highlighted Michelle Miller ’02, who traded a job in Manhattan for a two-year stint with the Peace Corps in Moldava, where she worked with an organization that supports the rights of women and children in the Cahul region.

As a unique gift idea, the Huffington Post Dec. 23 suggested the book, Beatrice’s Goat, which tells the story of how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of Beatrice Biira ’08.

In a Dec. 24 roundup in The Resident (CT) about recent arts events at Connecticut College, Jurate Waller, vocal instructor, said she is “very proud” of her students’ accomplishments.

Norwich Bulletin and The Day reported Dec. 25 and Jan. 5 that as part of a celebration of its 100th year, the NAACP would host a series of events, including a juried art exhibit with Professor of Studio Art Barkley Hendricks as juror.

Psychology Professor Ruth Grahn was quoted in a Dec. 30 article in The Day about how humans are wired to deal with stress, such as the prolonged stress of an economic crisis. Janet Spoltore, director of Counseling Services, and Jefferson Singer, professor of Psychology, were also quoted.

In a letter to The Day Dec. 31, Will Morrissey, chairman of the board of the Covenant Shelter in New London, thanked Connecticut College and the student mentors who helped to make life as normal as possible for the children staying at the shelter.

In a 24-hour act of solidarity with people in war-torn areas, David Dorfman, chair of the dance department, danced blind-folded and without music. The protest was photographed for an online slideshow on theday.com and appeared as an article in the Jan. 1 edition of The Day. A blog entry about the dance was posted to courant.com.

The retirement of men’s soccer coach Bill Lessig was listed as one of the top sports stories of the year in the Jan. 2 edition of The New London Times.

Art Daily announced Jan. 5 that Barkley Hendricks, professor of studio art, would present his first career retrospective exhibition at the Studio Museum in Harlem through Spring 2009.

On Jan. 9, Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology, spoke to U.S. News about why Americans have a tendency to overspend, giving advice on resisting such materialism, and sharing how he paid off his own credit card debt. Listen here.

A guide to the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) in EduGuide (MI) mentioned that rules about academic probation can differ at different schools and mentioned that Connecticut College is a school that contacts parents if a student is placed on academic probation, so long as the student is claimed on federal income tax statements.